Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I believe the Minister has sympathy and compassion for the victims, but a section of them want to pursue a class action. They want to come together and take on the banks in the courts. In the event of a future scandal, they want to have that ability. It is about levelling the playing field. The Dáil has passed Second Stage of the legislation and in the normal course of action it would now be before the Select Committee on Justice and Equality where it would be scrutinised. That committee wants to scrutinise it but the Government must provide the money message. I know that the Minister does not have direct responsibility but as a Minister who is completely au faitwith the suffering of those victims, does he support allowing this legislation to go to the next Stage as a tool that could be used to address the wrongs inflicted on many individuals who want to pursue legal action?